The station diesel mechanic and Mawson doctor chime in, plus a barbecue is held at the carpenter’s workshop.

Interview with a dieso

Charlie interviews ‘Angry’ Rob Cullen, station diesel mechanic. 

What do you on station, Angry?

Diesel mechanic, also called a dieso

Where did your nickname come from?

It was given to me at Casey station by the ‘Bolton Gang'.

What’s your worst movie?

Linc’s Cheesy Tuesday

What’s your favourite song?

Van Morrison’s ‘Here comes the night'

What are you looking forward to while here in Anatarctica?

Beating anyone at table tennis.

What are you missing back in Australia?

My grandchildren Osker, Bella, Ben and Tristan

What’s your favourite food on station?

It’s all good, thanks to Kim the chef. 

Rob Cullen pictured with an emperor penguin at casey satation in 2010
Fitting a diozer blade to the new D6 dozer
Rob Cullen in front of a Haggland returning from Woop Woop in 2012
Fitting a dozer blade to the new D6 dozer

The Mawson doctor

So this week I thought I’d take you all on tour of my happy little corner of the red shed, the medical facility. It is a very well equipped space to ensure that the best possible level of medical care is provided to expeditioners in one of Australia’s most remote environments. There is a small laboratory where limited pathology testing is done as well as sterilising the medical equipment, and the monthly water and sanitation testing.

The main consulting room looks like most GP offices around Australia, with the exception of the utterly breaktaking view of East Arm and the glaciers from the window. There is a treatment bay and dental area. The model sitting in the chair below is Yorrick, our dental phantom. He has teeth that can be x-rayed and drilled so that I can practice the dental skills learnt in pre-departure training.

The medical storeroom is a mini-pharmacy containing all the medications and medical equipment needed. Tucked in the back corner is a small operating theatre and scrub room. There is also a two bed ward for anyone who needs admission. Care of any patients is provided by the doctor, with supervised assistance by the lay medical assistants (LSAs).

My day consists of providing medical care to all expeditioners as well as maintaining and checking all of the equipment through a regular maintenance and quality assurance schedule. These are tasks that I wouldn’t necessary do back in Australia. To me, it enhances the experience of working in such a remote and beautiful environment.

It is an absolute privilege to be here, and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.

Main consulting room, looking into the treatment room. Yorrick likes to hang out in the dental chair until the real customers arrive
This is the view from the medical facility, not bad
This is the medical laboratory
This is photo of the medical store room, it is a mini pharmacy
This room is where we scrub if required for surgery and it also has our vacination fridge
The operating theatre for Mawson station
This is the ward where patients would stay while recovering

BBQ at chippies workshop

We've been getting some cracking weather since we arrived at Mawson. To make the most of this before it starts to get even colder, the decision was made to have a barbecue on the deck of the chippie’s workshop.

The chippies, or carpenters, probably have the best workplace in all of Mawson. They have a brightly coloured building called ‘The Lorikeet’ and it opens right up onto the shore of Horseshoe Harbour. Wildlife are frequent visitors and the building provides the perfect wind break to watch them. We all can certainly see why Peter Layt, our carpenter (who is also building services supervisor and deputy station leader) is so happy to go to work each morning!

A huge thank you to our fantastic chef Kim for cooking a delicious BBQ and to everyone who helped out to make it happen.

The Mawson team standing outside the carpenter’s workshop which is know as The Lorikeet due to its many colours
This is the amazing view over west arm that Pete the chippy has from his workshop
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